Review - Saves the Day

Band: Saves the Day
Album: Under The Boards
Label: Vagrant Records
Rating: 3.5/5

Saves the Day is one of the accomplished veterans of pop punk. The band has proven that, just like in a sports team, you need veteran presence in a genre to show people how things are done. On their sixth studio album, Under The Boards, Saves the Day shows all the rookies out there how to put together a pop punk record.

With the second installment of a three-album project, we find Saves the Day right in the middle of their journey of self-discovery. The trilogy gives Saves the Day that extra emo touch that will make fans fall in love with the group even more. As for the others…well the others probably won’t be listening to this album.

Under the Board has some moments that really hit. The track “Get Fucked Up” has lyrics and catchiness that can’t escape the listener. The piano and vocals on “Lonely Nights” gives the album a different sound and keeps it fresh. The opening track “Under the Board” is a great pick for any emo kid’s Myspace profile. As Chris Conley spills his emotions, you immediately feel attached. “Radio” is another standout track that has a classic upbeat Saves the Day feel to it.

On the other hand, the acoustic track “Stay” is on the repetitive side and leaves the listener waiting for the song’s tempo to pick up and go somewhere. It never happens. With this being maybe the only true hiccup in the album, these veteran rockers have put out a solid release.

Saves the Day fans should be more than satisfied with Under the Board. The album delivers some classic Saves the Day moments with some new ways of going about it.

Recommended Tracks: Radio, Under the Boards, Lonely Nights, Because You Are No Other

Review - The Classic Crime

Band: The Classic Crime
Album: Acoustic EP: Seattle Sessions
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Rating: 4/5

So, let me set the stage for you. You are a hard rocking band that just put out your debut album on Tooth & Nail Records. You are starting to build a reputation around being a hard rock band. What do you do next? Wait a second… you want to release an acoustic EP? Well, at least that is what The Classic Crime decided to do with their latest work Acoustic EP: Seattle Sessions. It seems like a strange move but it may be the best decision the band has made yet.

Much like Dallas Green of Alexisonfire did with his acoustic side project City and Colour, The Classic Crime has shown a different side of their band with this EP while not making it a separate side project. Seattle Sessions should attract a wider fan base for the band by exposing the group’s more sensitive side. It’s kind of like Gatsby’s American Dream and Emery combined with a slower tempo.

As proven by the track “Wake Up (Shipwreck)”, the choruses on the songs can be a little cheesy and weak at times. All together though this was a solid EP that I would recommend checking out. The only set back may be that I prefer their sound on the EP to their debut album. Can the band ditch their debut sound and just run with this one? Either way they have grabbed my attention and I’m interested to see what they do next.

Review - Mt. St. Helen

Band: Mt. St. Helen
Album: Of Others
Label: Two Thumbs Down Records
Rating: 2.5/5
With four-year breaks in between each of the three records they’ve released, Mt. St. Helen obviously likes to keep their fans waiting for new music. With the long downtime between records and switching of record labels on each release, it’s been hard for the group to build any real steam. On their latest record Of Others the band comes together with a solid rock sound reminiscent of …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead.

The instrumentation on the record is a solid foundation to build a good rock album on. The vocals, on the other hand, don’t really compliment the rest of the band. Sure they’re decent vocals, but they sound exactly the same on every track. The lack of vocal dynamics and range come off bland. The vocals aren’t so terrible that they don’t work for some tracks such as “Massive Dosage.” On the track “City Of…” the band tries pulling off something different with an almost old school metal feel. The vocals are a little more fitting on this song too, but it still seems like the lead singer is only carrying one note.

This record was pretty straightforward and my analysis seems to follow that trend. Instrumentally, this record was pretty solid. Vocally, it struggles.

I would recommend this record to Trail of the Dead fans as long as they realize that the vocals wont have the same charisma.

Envy on the Coast Cancel Tour

Envy on the Coast has been forced to cancel their tour with Saosin and the upcoming college tour due to Ryan having a case of acid reflux combined with a polyp and burst blood vessel affecting his vocal chords. For now the First to Last tour is still on pending that Ryan is better. We wish Ryan a speedy recovery.

Hey guys...Brian here. I have a bit of bad news. The past week of shows have been super rough on Ryan and he's been struggling to get through our set. Not fun...especially since he holds himself to such a high standard of performance. Yesterday at the Saints and Sinners festival were the pinnacle of his problems, vocally, and he told us that he's in dire need of a doctor to see whats wrong with him. It turns out....a combination of things were wrong with his voice. A case of acid reflux combined with a polyp and burst blood vessel on Ryan's cords had been severely affecting his ability to sing. I got off the phone with him nor more than 15 minutes ago and I can assure you this was a last resort decision and he's super upset about it. We made a decision as a band to cancel the rest of our tour with Saosin and the upcoming college shows so Ryan can rest his voice and get better. As of right now the tour with From First To Last is still happening...provided Ryan is up to it. Thank all of you for coming out to the shows and for your continued support and to everyone who was plannning on coming to the upcoming shows...we're terribly sorry and we hate the fact that we would disappoint any of you. Hopefully we'll see you guys soon.

Love,

Brian, Sal, Jer, Dan, and Ryan

Radiohead sign with XL Recordings

Radiohead announced that they have signed with indie British label XL Recordings for the physical release of In Rainbows.

Review - Jonny Manak and the Depressives

Band: Jonny Manak and The Depressives
Album: Rebound Town
Label: Reach Around Records
Rating: 2.5/5

In all my years of listening to music I haven’t come across a band that I would label “punk n’ roll,” mainly because it’s super cheesy. Jonny Manak and The Depressives definitely would fit into that genre. Some songs are purely punk, others are purely 50-60s rock n’ roll and then there are also songs that mix the two. The most impressive thing about Rebound Town is that Jonny Manak recorded each instrument on his own. There shouldn’t be a doubt in anybody’s mind that Jonny is talented. The guy can play violin, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums and also find time to become a professional skateboarder.

The opening track “Down the Drain” is one song that mixes punk and 50-60s rock n’ roll. Frankly it’s a bore and not a great way to start off an album. The next track “She said Yeah” begins the album’s redemption. The hailing guitar in the intro and the catchy melody is what you would hope to find throughout the whole record. Unfortunately, it only happens a couple of times. Possibly the best part of the whole record is that the songs only range in time from one to two minutes. Any track you don’t like is pretty much over by the time you’re ready to go to the next one.

I would have liked to see Jonny display some more of his guitar skills that can be found in tracks like “She said Yeah” and “Young Girls.” Those are the songs that seem to really work for this band.

Rebound Town as a whole comes off as Jonny being super confused about whether punk or rock n’ roll is his favorite genre. It was almost like a fight between the two. They square off as equals on the track “Down the Drain.” On the track “Sacrifice” punk starts to break away… but wait! Rock n’ roll comes back with a nasty uppercut on the track “No More Lucy.” Whether punk or rock n’ roll ends up winning, you have to be cheering for both sides to be able to enjoy this album.

Say Anything Song on Scrubs

Say Anthing's song "Alive with Glory" will be played on tonights episode of Scrubs on NBC which airs at 9:30.

UK Tour

Hellogoodbye, Say Anything, Sherwood and Go Audio (Epic UK) are going on a string of UK dates starting 11/27 in Cardiff.

Tue 11/27 Cardiff, UKUni Great Hall
Wed 11/28 Exeter, UKLemon Grove
Thu 11/29 Portsmouth, UKPyramids Centre
Fri 11/30 Cambridge, UKCorn Exchange
Sat 12/1 OFF
Sun 12/2 Sheffield, UKLeadmill
Mon 12/3 Newcastle, UKAcademy
Tue 12/4 Glasgow, Scotland
Wed 12/5 Leeds, UKCockpit
Thu 12/6 OFF
Fri 12/7 Brixton, UKAcademy
Sat 12/8 Folkstone, UKLees Cliff Hall
Sun 12/9 Norwich, UKUEA
Mon 12/10 Birmingham, UKAcademy
Tue 12/11 Manchester, UKAcademy

Light the Night

Jack's Mannequin is spreading the word about the Light the Night Walk. Here's what they have to say:

Jack's Mannequin has teamed up with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for its second national Light the Night Walk team. These walks happen throughout the nation help raise funds and awareness about blood diseases. In 2006, the Jack's Mannequin Team raised $30,000, and we're hoping that we can do even better this year. There is a lot of power in numbers. If each of us signs up and helps to raise a little bit, than we can help the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in raising more money this year. Even if you are physically unable to make it to the actual walksite, you can still help by being a virtual walker and fundraising.

Signing up is easy! All you have to do is go to www.lightthenight.org and sign up for the Jack's Mannequin Team. You can also visit the Dear Jack Foundation site for detailed instructions on how to sign up. Once you're signed up, you can set your fundraising goal, and then send out e-mails to your friends and family about sponsoring your walk.

We've also got a few prizes going on for the walksite teams and individual that raise the most money.

- Walksite Team prize : Signed Jack's Mannequin lithographs
- Individual prize : Signed Jack's Mannequin lithograph, signed piano key, 2 tickets and private meet and greet to any upcoming Jack's Mannequin show.

Thanks!
Team Jack's Mannequin

Radiohead Tour

An international Radiohead tour is in the works starting in May 2008 and lasting until about the end of the year.